Category Archives: outbreak

USA – STEC E. coli Outbreak in Michigan seems to be brewing – at least 9 cases reported

Posted on August 12, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health is alerting the public to increasing cases of shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) infections in the community. The Department is currently monitoring 9 cases of STEC, which is significantly higher than the typical number of cases reported at this time of the year. The Department is working with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to investigate possible links between the cases. Four of the 9 cases have been hospitalized for their symptoms.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Poisoning, STEC, STEC E.coli

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table Update

Posted on August 11, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

For the outbreak of Cyclospora in an unidentified food (ref # 1084) the total case count has increased from 60 to 77.

Date Posted	Ref	Pathogen or Cause of Illness	Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any)	Total Case Count	Status
8/3/ 2022	1080	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	6	Active
7/27/ 2022	1084	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	77	Active
6/29/ 2022	1076	Not Yet Identified	Frozen Food	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
6/22/ 2022	1075	Salmonella Braenderup	Not Yet Identified	74	Active
6/22/ 2022	1072	Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+	Not Identified	14	Closed
6/15/ 2022	1070	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	12	Closed
6/8/ 2022	1068	E. coli O157:H7	Not Identified	10	Closed
6/1/ 2022	1066	Hepatitis A Virus	Strawberries	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
5/25/ 2022	1067	Salmonella Senftenberg	Peanut Butter	See Outbreak Advisory	Closed
4/20/ 2022	1064	Not Yet Identified	Dry Cereal	558 adverse event reports	Active
4/13/ 2022	1057	Listeria monocytogenes	Ice Cream	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
3/30/ 2022	1060	None Identified	Meal Replacement Drink	6 adverse event reports	Closed
3/16/ 2022	1055	Salmonella Saintpaul	Not Identified	60	Closed
2/17/ 2022	1056	Cronobacter sakazakii	Powdered Infant Formula	See Advisory	Active (IMG)
2/9/ 2022	1040	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	20	Closed
2/2/ 2022	1054	Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26	Not Identified	16	Closed
1/10/ 2022	1050	E. coli O121:H19	Romaine	4	Closed

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, E.coli O121, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, O143:H26, outbreak, Salmonella

Hong Kong – CHP investigates two suspected food poisoning clusters

Posted on August 11, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

CHP

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 8) investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters affecting 18 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent food-borne diseases.

The first cluster involved four males and four females, aged seven to 44, who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever about 4.5 to 28.5 hours after consuming takeaway food purchased from a restaurant in Sai Kung on July 30.

The second cluster involved six males and four females, aged five to 71, who developed similar symptoms about 8.5 to 36.5 hours after consuming takeaway food provided by the same restaurant on the same day.

Seven of the affected persons sought medical advice and one of whom required hospitalisation. All of them are in stable condition.

To prevent food-borne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out:

Patronise only reliable and licensed restaurants;
Avoid eating raw seafood;
Be a discerning consumer in choosing cold dishes, including sashimi, sushi and raw oysters, at a buffet;
Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before eating during a hot pot or barbecue meal;
Handle raw and cooked foods carefully and separate them completely during the cooking process;
Use two sets of chopsticks and utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
Do not patronise illegal food hawkers;
Drink boiled water;
Do not try to use salt, vinegar, wine and wasabi to kill bacteria as they are not effective; and
Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

New Zealand latest country part of Salmonella tahini outbreak – Salmonella Kintambo

Posted on August 8, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Tahini from Syria has been linked to a trio of illnesses in New Zealand with recalls continuing across Europe.

The three patients have been infected with Salmonella Kintambo. Patients have previously been reported in the United States, Canada and across Europe as part of a wider outbreak.

In late July in New Zealand, Middle East recalled specific batches of Algota brand Sesame Tahini due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – More Listeria illnesses linked to Big Olaf Ice Cream

Posted on August 8, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The CDC and FDA report since the last update on July 13, 2022, two more illnesses have been reported. As of August 2, 2022, a total of 25 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 11 states. Thirteen sick people are residents of Florida and ten reported traveling to Florida before getting sick. Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 24, 2021, to June 24, 2022.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) collected samples of ice cream and environmental samples from the ice cream production area at the Big Olaf Creamery facility in Sarasota, Florida. FDACS also performed whole genome sequencing on these samples and the Florida Department of Health identified the outbreak strain in the samples collected from the ice cream and the environment.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Ice Cream (July 2022)

Posted on August 5, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

The FDA, along with CDC, is assisting the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH) and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) in investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to ice cream supplied by Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida. As of August 2, 2022, CDC reports 25 illnesses in 11 states.

This is an ongoing investigation, and the FDA is continuing to work with the FL DOH and FDACS to investigate. FDA will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.

Recommendation

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled Big Olaf ice cream products and should throw the product away, regardless of the “Best By” or expiration date.

Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating Big Olaf ice cream products:

Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received any recalled Big Olaf ice cream products should throw the products away, follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Product Images

The Big Olaf brand ice cream was sold to consumers in plastic pint size containers, plastic ½ gallon containers, and plastic 2.5-gallon tubs, scoopable are sold to the independent retail stores. All flavors, lots, codes, and all expiration dates through 6/30/2022 are included in this recall.

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Monocytogenes in Florida-Based Big Olaf Ice Cream (July 2022) - CDC Case Count Map as of August 4, 2022

Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Big Olaf’s Ice Cream Products

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Monocytogenes from Florida-Based Ice Cream - Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Ice Cream (July 13, 2022)

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 25
Hospitalizations: 24
Deaths: 1
Fetal Loss: 1
Last illness onset: 6/24/2022
States with Cases: CO (1), FL (13), GA (1), IL (1), KS (1), NE (1), MA (2), MN (1), NJ (1), NY (2), PA (1)
Product Distribution*: FL, OH
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

RASFF Alerts – Listeria Outbreak in Italy

Posted on August 5, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF

Listeria ST155 outbreak in Italy

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EU – 15 July update: Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to chocolate products

Posted on August 4, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

ECDC

As of 15 July 2022, 401 confirmed (n=399) and probable (n=2) cases of monophasic S. Typhimurium have been identified in the EU/EEA and the United Kingdom. This is an increase of nine cases since the last update on 3 June 2022. The latest reported case is from the UK with sampling date on 16 June 2022. In addition, cases have been identified in Canada (n=4), Switzerland (n=49), and United States (n=1), bringing the total number of cases to 455 globally.

This outbreak is characterised by high proportion of hospitalised (about 40%) cases, most of these are children below 10 years of age, and some cases with severe clinical symptoms like bloody diarrhoea.

Affected cases have been identified through advanced molecular typing techniques. As this method of testing is not routinely performed in all countries, some cases may be undetected.

Based on epidemiological and microbiological investigations, specific chocolate products from a Belgian chocolate factory were identified as likely vehicles of infection.

The factory was closed on 8 April 2022 (week 14) and product recalls were launched globally. The recalls aimed to prevent the consumption of products potentially contaminated with Salmonella. As a result of control measures, number of cases have declined rapidly.

Further investigations are needed to identify the root cause of the contamination, and to ensure that contaminated products are not put on the market.

Table 1. Number of confirmed and probable cases of monophasic S. Typhimurium in the EU/EEA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the United States, as of 15 July 2022

Country	Confirmed cases	Probable cases	Total number of cases
Austria	14	0	14
Belgium	64	2	66
Czech Republic	1	0	1
Denmark	4	0	4
France	121	0	121
Germany	34	0	34
Ireland	18	0	18
Italy	1	0	1
Luxembourg	2	0	2
Netherlands	3	0	3
Norway	1	0	1
Spain	3	0	3
Sweden	5	0	5
Total EU/EEA	271	2	273
United Kingdom	128	0	128
Total EU/EEA and UK	399	2	401
Canada	4	0	4
Switzerland	49	0	49
United States	1	0	1
Total	453	2	455

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella, Salmonella in Chocolate